Condensate drain system for steam engines



Nov. 28, 1950 J. F. GRIFFIN ETAL 2,531,878

CONDENSATE DRAIN SYSTEM FOR STEAM ENGINES Filed Jan. 25, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 28, 1950 J. F. GRIFFIN ETAL CONDENSATE DRAIN SYSTEMFOR STEAM ENGINES Filed Jan. 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VNTOR5Patented Nov. 28, 1950 CONDENSATE DRAIN SYSTEM FOR STEAM ENGINES JosephF. Grifiin, Hammond, and Ralph G. Skoog,

(Jrown Point, Ind., assignors to Combustion Engineering- Superheater,Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application January 25, 1947, Serial No.724,454

) 11 Claims. (Cl. l0537) The present invention relates to hydraulicpumps and particularly to an automatic drain system for the steamcylindersof a locomotive feed water pump of the reciprocating type.

When a water pump or other apparatus driven by a reciprocating steamengine is stopped after operating, quantities of steam remain in theengine cylinders and condense. Conventionally, the engine cylinders areprovided with vent cocks that are opened automatically as by a springwhen the engine stops. These however do close by steam pressure as soonas the engine starts and hence do not remain open long enough to permitejection of the condensate from above the pistons by-reciprocation ofthe latter. This condensate forms a body of water in the cylinders andprovides a hammer effect when the pistons are again reciprocating withthe result that the pressure built up frequently causes deterioration toand destruction of the top head gaskets for the steam cylinders. Thematerial cost of replacing these gaskets in and by itself is not seriousbut considerable labor is required to take oh the cylinder heads andreplace the gaskets and where the pump supplies. feed water to alocomotive boiler the necessity of holding the engine out of serviceuntil there is an opportunity to perform this rather substantial job isa serious matter. Conventional drain cocks on the cylinders would not besatisfactory on a locomotive feed water pump since as will be apparentit would be impractical for the engineman to climb out on the runningboard and open the drain cocks preliminary to starting of the pump andthen close them after the condensate has been ejected by thereciprocation of the steam pistons.

Likewise the spring actuated automatic check valves for this purposewhich would be lifted open by 'means of springs and close under steampressure would not prove satisfactory because such valves would open andclose with each reversal of the pump. Drain passages from the top to thebottom portions of the cylinders through the pistons are alsoimpractical.

The present invention has for its object the provision of an automaticdrain system for the steam cylinders of a locomotive feed water pump ofthe reciprocating type which will assure that the engineman takespositive action to see that the piston cylinders are properly drained.

In its preferred form the drain system contemplated by the presentinvention has automatic devices which assure proper draining of thecylinders and the system is rendered fool-proof in that the pump willnot operate in a manner satisfactory to the engineman unless he takesthe Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of a drain system for the steamcylinders of a locomotive feed water pump embodying the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a multiple drain valve unit for the steamcylinders of the pump;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a drain valve on the 1ine-33 in Figure2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a control valve that may be utilized inthe'system shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 1 illustrating apreferred embodiment of the automatic drain system in accordance withthe present invention;

Figure 6 isa sectional view of the control valve forming part of thesystem illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a preferred form of multiple drainvalve;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view on the line 8-8 in Figure 7.

In Figure 1 the: numeral Ill designates a. locomotive feed water pump ofthe reciprocating type which draws water from the tender through thesuction line l2 and discharges it through the delivery line l4 into thelocomotive boiler.

reciprocating steam engine, designated as a whole by the numeral it,which is supplied with steam from the turret 18 of the locomotive boilerthrough the steam line 20, 2'! subject to the manually operatedpumpthrottle valve 22 which 25, 26, are maintained off the valve seats39.

around ports 34 by the springs is acting on the valve stem. 42. To closethe valves 33 against the force of their springs til, steam to act onpistons Thepump it is operated bya vertically arranged closed whenpreviously stopping the pump and 2 the control valve 59 also is inclosed position, provided the engineman has properly performed hisduties. Under these conditions the valve or valves 38 are open and anycondensate remaining in the bottom portions of the steam cylinders coulddrain through the pipes 26 into the drain discharge pipe 36. To placethe pump in operation the throttle valve 22 is opened to supply steam tothe engine It and as the pistons thereof reciprocate any condensateremaining in the top portion of the cylinders is forced therefrom in thefirst few pump strokes and passes through the piping 24 to the opendrain valves 38 and out through the pipe 36. After the condensate hasbeen forced from the engine cylinders each reciprocation of its pistonswill cause an amount ofsteamto' blow out through the drain dischargepipe 36 past the drain valves 38 which are now in open position and thenoise of the escaping steam should draw the attention of the enginemanto this fact. The engineman noting this noise and the attendant waste ofsteam opens the control valve 58 admitting steam from the line 2i on thedown stream side of throttle 22 to the multiple drain valvecylinders' 46with the result that the valves 38 are shifted to the right in Figure 3on to their seats 40 to be held by steam pressure and close the escapeports 34.

The arrangement described above provides for effectively draining thesteam cylinders of the pump of condensate which forms after a period ofoperation of the pump provided the drain valves 38 are opened after thepump stops and remain in this position for at least a short period afterthe pump is again placed in operation. Even though the enginemanneglects to close the control valve 59 as well as the pump throttle 22the steam pressure in the drain valve cylinders 46 would bleed offthrough the conduit 48 past the open valve 50" and conduit 4! into thedown stream side 2| of the pump steam line and through the pumpcylinders thus relieving the pressure so that the springs 40 act to openthe drain valves '38.

However, if the engineman on stoppin the pump allows the control valveto remain opened, the opening of the throttle valve to start the pumpwould simultaneously supply steam past the open control valve 56 to thedrain valve piston cylinders 46 through the conduit 41, 48 therebycausing closing of the drain valve 38 promptly upon starting of the pumpand possibly before the reciprocation of the engine pistons ejectedcondensate from its cylinders. To provide a fool proof system andguard'against the possibllityof the engineman overlooking closing thecontrol valve it .is desirable that the opening and closing of the drainvalves 38 be rendered as fully automatic as possible. This additionalfeature for full automatic operation is shown in the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in Fi ures 4 and 8.

In Figure 4 the numeral 52 designates as a whole an automatic controlvalve which may be substituted for the globe valve 50 in Figure 1.

Its construction assures that the control and drain valves are in propercondition to assure drainin of the pump steam cylinders subsequent tostoppage of the pump although the engineman may overlook shutting thecontrol valve again after hehas once operated it to close the drainvalves when starting the pump. With this form of control valve theengineman upon noting the blowing of steam through the drain dischargepipe 36 after starting the pump efiects closing of the drain valves 38by operating a lever 54 to move the valve member 56 from its seat 51against the action of spring 53. As the stem Bil of valve 56 isretracted a collar 62 thereon is drawn rearwardly so that it becomespositioned behind a latch member 64 projecting from the valve casing.The latch 64 is projected against the force of a spring 66 when steampressure is admitted, upon opening, pump throttle 22, to a chamber i2 inwhich the piston 76 fits loosely so steam may enter from the body cavity68of into the chamber 58 of the control valve builds uppressurein thespace 12 behind the piston I0 causing, the latch pin 64 to be projected.from the "valve housing. So long as the drain valves" 38 remain opensteam blows from the drain dis' charge pipe" 36' until the enginemantakes note of this fact and operates the lever 54. There'- upon' controlvalve 56 is drawn away from its seat" 53- against the action of spring58. The

operationlof lever '54 in retracting the valve stemv Ell causes thecollar 6.2 thereon to move totheright raising thelatch pin 64 againstthe steam pressure onits piston 10.

As the collar moves to the right beyond the latch pin the steam pressureacts on piston i6 to again project the latch pin 64 into lockingposition at the left of collar 62 thus holding the control valve-55 offits seat. Steam pressure then being supplied to the piston cylinders 46"for the drain valves 38 moves them to closed position and-holds themthere so long as the throttle valve 22 is open. Upon closing of thethrottle valve 22. to stop the pump pressure in the chamber 68 andpiston cylinder '12 of the control valve 52 is bledoff through thepiping 41 and steam line 20' to the pump cylinders sothat the spring 66becomes efiective to retract the latch pin 64 thereby releasing valvestem 59 so that the spring 58 may seat the control valve-56. The steampressure in the piston cylinders 46 for the drain valves 38 is similarlyrelieved of pressure so that the springs 4i! may open the drain valves38 and condition the system for draining the engine'cylinders when thepump is started again.

Instead'of utilizing amechanical latch to hold it in open position thecontrol valve 88 illustrated in Figure 6 is maintained in open positionby steam pressure passing therethrough. Whenthe handle 82'is drawn tothe right to move the valve 34 off its seat for supplying steam throughthe piping 4'1, 48 to close the drain valves 38, steam flows through anaxial passage 86 in the valve stem from the chamber for the valve 84andthrough radial passages 81 into a piston cylinder BSwhere it actsupon the piston 90 to hold the valve 84 off its seat. This movement ofthe piston 90 also moves a vent valve 92 against its seat 93 Shuttingoff communication with a vent pipe 94 through the intermediate chamber95. Thus, when after starting the pump the engineman notices the blowingoff of steam and opens the control valve i l to supply steam to effectclosing of the drain valves 33, the pressure of steam in valve chamber95 being communicated through the axial and radial passages 89, 81 topiston 90 holds the control valve 84 open. When the throttle valve 22 isclosed the bleeding of steam from the chambers 85 and 88, simultaneouswith bleeding of the piston cylinders 46 for the drain valves 58 toallow the latter to close, permits the spring 95 to act to close thecontrol valve 84 as the pressure in chamber 88 is relieved.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a simplified form of drain valve H38 in whicha single valve member IE2 is utilized to control communication betweenthe several drain lines 24, '26 leading from the engine cylinders andthe condensate discharge conduit 36. The various drain lines 24, 26 areconnected in circumferentially spaced relation to the central chamberH33 which leads past the valve seat 96 to an outlet chamber I05 into oneside of which the drain line 35 is tapped. A vent pipe Hi is provided,for venting the valve casing. When the control valve is opened by theengineman for admitting steam to the piping 48 to cause closing of thedrain valve the steam acts on the piston portion Hi6 of the valve memberI02 to move it against its seat 404 against the resistance of a springis? and cuts off communication between the chamber 33 and the chamber[35 from which latter the drain pipe 36 leads. Simultaneous with theseating of the valve member I92 the piston portion 108 thereof closesofi ports H 9 in a sleeve H9 which serves as a guide for the valve 382,and its piston I06, the ports I99 being in alinement with the drain pipeconnections 24, 28. Upon closing of the throttle valve pressure againstpiston I95 is relieved through the conduit 58, A! and the spring I01thereupon becomes efieetive to move the valve member 62 from its seatI04 thereby restoring the drain valve to condition for effectingdrainage of the engine cylinders when the pump is again started.

To recapitulate: (1) When the engineman opens the throttle to start thepump condensate is discharged from the cylinders of its engine and thensteam blows out through the drains attracting the attention of theengineman. (2) The engineman then opens the control valve which suppliessteam to close the drain valves. (3) With the pump in operation thedrain valves are held closed by steam pressure admitted by the controlvalves which remain open. (4) When the pump is stopped by closing itsthrottle the drain valves open under pressure of their springs as steambleeds from the piston chambers of the related pistons. (5) In theembodiment of Figures 1 to 3 the enginernan to assure continued properoper- 6 the automatic release of the mechanical or pressure latch forthe control valve in form Figures 3 to 8 positively assures propersequence of events for continuous operation Although specificembodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detailherein it is to be understood that many changes and embodiments may bemade without departing from the invention and therefore it is desiredand intended to include all such changes and embodiments within thescope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a locomotive feed water system having a pump driven by areciprocating steam engine and a steam line provided with a throttlevalve in the locomotive cab for regulating the operation of said engineand pump, condensate drain pipes connected into the ends of thecylinders of said engine, a condensate discharge pipe connectedto saiddrain pipes, normally open drain valve means interposed between saiddrain pipes and said discharge pipe, means operable by steam pressure insaid line, when said throttle is open to operate said pump, for closingsaid drain valve means; and manipulative means located in the locomotivecab operative to render said means for closing said drain valve meansefifective to close said valve means and maintain it closed duringoperation of said pump.

2. In a locomotive feed water system having a pump driven by areciprocating steam engine and a steam line provided with a throttlevalve in the locomotive cab for regulating the operation of said engineand pump, condensate drain pipes connected into the ends of thecylinders of said engine, a condensate discharge pipe connected to saiddrain pipes, drain valve means interposed between said drain pipes andsaid disin closed position to cut ofi flow of steam to said operatingmeans for closing said discharge Valve means, and means subject to theopening of said throttle for maintaining said control valve in openposition during periods when said throttle is open and said pump is inoperation.

3. In a locomotive feed water system having a pump driven by areciprocating steam engine and a steam line provided with a throttlevalve in the locomotive cab for regulating the operation of said engineand pump, condensate drain pipes connected into the ends of thecylinders of said engine, a condensate discharge pipe connected to saiddrain pipes, drain valve means interposed between said drain pipes andsaid discharge pipe, means acting to normally maintain said valve meansin open position, steam actuated operating means for moving said drainvalve means to closed position; and a conduit connecting said operatingmeans to said steam line at a point between said engine and the throttletherein; a control valve located in the locomotive cab and interposed insaid conduit adapted when in open position to permit flow of steam tosaid operating means for closing said discharge valve means and meansautomatically operative to hold said control valve in open positionduring periods when said throttle is open and said pump is in operation.

aceaszzs;

ealntalocomotive. feedwater systemrhaving:

aapump's. driven: by a reciprocating steam engine. amine;steamrlineprovided with a throttle valve in the locomotive cab forregulating theoperation; of'sa-idiengmez anduspump, condensate drainpipes conneutedinto the. ends of the cylinders: of said enginezia".condensate discharge pipe connected .to. saidi draini pipes, drain.valve means interposed. between said drain .pipesandsaid dischargepipe,means. acting to normally maintain said valve means in open position,steam. actuated operating: means for moving said drain valve; means: toclosed; position; and a. conduit connecting? said operating meansto-said: steam line at apoint be? tween the said engine andthe-throttletherein; a. control. valve located in the locomotive cab:andinterposed. in said conduit adapted when inopen position. to permitflow-of steam to said operating, means: for closing. said control valve;and

locking means associated withsaid throttlevalve and. said control valvefor maintaining the latter when opened. in such condition so longas saidthrottle is. open andfor. causing it to close upon closingsaid throttle;

5.- In combination with a. reciprocating steamengine havinga throttleregulated steam .linefor supplying the latter, condensatedrain pipesconnected intov the ends of thecylinders. of said engine, a condensatedischarge pipe connected to, saiddrain. pipes, drain valve means.interposed between said drain pipesand said. discharge pipe,

means, acting to. maintain said valve means inv openpositiorr fluidactuated operating means f or closing saidvalve means and a. conduitforsupplying fluidtosaid valveoperating means; a control valve in.saidfluid conduit adapted. when closedto cutofi the supply of fluid tosaid operatingineans for closing. said drain valve. means,

manipulative means. for opening. said. control.

valve; and means subject. to opening of. said.

throttle operative to. hold said control valve in.

openposition during'operation of saidenginer 6. In combination with areciprocating steam engine having. a throttle regulated steam line-forsupplying the. latter, condensate. drain pipes con.- nected into the.ends. of the-cylinders of said engine, a condensate dischargepipe'connectedto said drain pipes;.valve means interposed between.

saiddrain, pipes and said discharge pipe, means acting tomaintain saidvalve means in open posiw tion,. fluid actuated operating means. forclosing; said valve means; and a conduit for supplying fluid tosaidvalve operating means; a control valve in said fluid conduitadaptedwhenv open to: supply fluid-to said operating means for closing saiddrain valve means; and means operative to hold. said control valve inopen position during, operation of said engine.

7. In. combination witha-reciprocati-ng steam. engine having a throttleregulated steamline. for supplying the latter, condensate drain-pipescon nested into the ends of the cylinders of said en gine;a. condensatedischarge pipe connectedltosaid drain-pipes, valve means interposedbetween saiddrain pipes. said drain discharge pipe-, means. acting tomaintain said valvemeans in open posi-- tion, fluid. actuated operating;means forclosing-said valve means"; and a conduit for supply ing fluidto said valve operating means; a.controivalve in said ii id conduitadapted when open. to permit the how of fluid to said operating. means.for closing drain valve means steam actuated means associated with saidthrottle. valve and said control valve ior maintainingthe latter;

when opened in such condition when supplied;

8 with :steam so long: assaid: throttle is open; and; means for causingsaid-control valve to closeupon: closing'saidthrottle.

8; In combination witha reciprocating steam; engine and'a steam lineprovided with a throttle valve :for; regulating its operation,condensate: drain-pipes connected" into the ends of the cylindersof-Jsaid engine; a condensate discharge pipe. connected to-said drainpipes; valve means inter-- IIIOSBdiZbEtWEfiIl. said drain pipes and saiddischarge? pipe, means acting to normally maintain. said. valve means inopen position, operating. means for moving said discharge valve meansto': closed: position; and: a conduit connecting saidoperating: means tosaid steam line at'a' point. betweensaid engine and the throttletherein; a.-

oontrol valve. in' said conduit adapted when: in: open-position: topermit steam flow to said. operatingvmeans: for: closing said dischargevalve;j. a-steam; actuated" piston and cylinder therefor associated'withsaid control valve and operativeto hold. the: latter in open position;and .a' cone nectionz. between said piston cylinder and said-'1conduitota point intermediate said discharge,

.valve operating means'and said throttle for supplying steam. to operatesaid piston to automaticall maintain said control valve in its open:position.

9: In combination with a reciprocating steam. engine and a. steam lineprovided with a throttle. value: for regala-tin its operation,condensate: drainwpipes connected into the ends of the cyl-.- indersofsaidengine, a condensate-discharge pipe connectedto-said drain pipes,valve means-in. terposed'ibetween said drain-pipes and said dischargepipe; means actin to normally maintain said-.va'lve-iir open position,operating means for" movingsaid discharge valve means to closedposi-ation; and. a conduit connecting said operating means: tosaidz'steamnline, at a point between saidv engine and the-throttletherein; a control valve in saidconduit-adaptcdwhen in open positiontor-permit steam flow to said operating means. for closing saiddischarge valve; a steam actu.-- ated' piston and cylinder thereforassociated with saidicontrolrvalve and operative to hold the lat.-ter'in open position; a connection between saidpistonncylinder and saidconduit at a point intermediate said discharge valve operating meansandrsaid -throttle for supplying steam to operate saictpiston toautomatically maintain said con-- trol valvein its open position; andmeans operative-upon closing of said throttle for closing said controlvalve;

It.' In combination with a reciprocating steam engine and a steam lineprovided with a throttle valve for regulating its operation, condensatedra-inrpi-pes connected into the ends of the cylinders of said engine, acondensate discharge pipes connected. to said drain pipes, valve meansinterposed-1. between said drain pipes and said discharge pipe, meansacting to normally maintain; said valve means in open position,operating. means-forrmovingsaid discharge valve meansto,closed-position; and a conduit connectingsaid; operating means to saidsteam line at a point... between saidengi-ne and the throttle therein; acontrol valve m said. conduit adapted when in; open position to permitsteam flow to said operating. means for closing said discharge valve;- asteamractuated piston and cylinder. thereforassooiated. with saidcontrol valve and operativetorhold. the latter in open position; a.connec tiom between: saidxpiston cylinder and saidconi duit: atiappointintermediate said-throttle. and.

valve operating means for supplying steam to operate said piston toautomatically hold said control valve when moved to its open position,said piston cylinder being automatically vented through said conduitupon closing of said pump throttle; and means operative upon venting ofsaid piston cylinder for closing said control valve.

11. In combination with a reciprocating steam engine and a steam lineprovided with a throttle valve for regulating its operation, condensatedrain pipes connected into the ends of the cylinders of said engine, acondensate discharge pipe connected to said drain pipes, valve meansinterposed between said drain pipes and said discharge pipe, meansacting to normally maintain said valve means in open position, operatingmeans for moving said discharge valve means to closed position; and aconduit connecting said operating means to said steam line at a pointbetween said engine and the throttle therein; a control valve in saidconduit, adapted when in open position to permit flow of steam to saidoperating means for closing said discharge valve means; latching meansassociated with said control valve for holding it in open position; asteam actuated piston and cylinder therefor acting on REFERENCES CITEDThe following references are of record in the I file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 692,172 Wescott et a1 -1 Jan. 28,1902 917,218 Westinghouse Apr. 6, 1909 1,514,080 Gunning Nov. 4, 19241,677,729 Sams July 17, 1928 1,724,389 Abel Aug. 13, 1929 2,136,952Ploen et a1 Nov. 15, 1938 2,327,055 McMahon Aug. 17, 1943 OTHERREFERENCES Locomotive Cyclopedia, 11th Edition, 1941, A. A. R., pages410-411.

